CVE-2026-74874

openssl_encrypt before 1.4.0 Weak PRNG Steganography Pixel Selection

HIGH
7.5
CVSS Score
Published: August 17, 2026 at 11:04 AM UTC
Updated: October 8, 2026 at 04:17 PM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorOpenSSL Encrypt

Using openssl_encrypt by jahlives?

Get instant alerts when new vulnerabilities affect openssl_encrypt - before attackers find them.

Real-time alertsTrack your software stackFree plan available
Severity
HIGH7.5
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.4%
SSVC
No known exploit

Description

openssl_encrypt versions before 1.4.0 use Python's non-cryptographic random module for steganographic pixel selection in the generate_pseudorandom_sequence function. Attackers who know the password can recover the Mersenne Twister state from approximately 624 outputs and predict pixel locations containing hidden data for extraction.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

v < 1.4.00 ≤ v < 1.4.0*0
Vendor states this is fixed in 1.4.0 (unaffected)

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet. What the record does show:

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCNo known exploitAutomatablePartial impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

7.5HIGHVulnCheck
Attack Vector
NETWORK
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
NONE
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
HIGH
Integrity
NONE
Availability
NONE
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusANALYZED
CWE
CWE-338

Get alerted

Stop reading CVE feeds looking for your own stack

Track the products you run and VulnTracker tells you when a new CVE affects them — with what is known about fixing it, and nothing about the rest.

Free plan, no card